How to Make the Most of the House You Have

If you're thinking of remodeling or upgrading your home - you're not alone.

2012 is expected to be the strongest year since 2006 for home remodeling. At California Closets, we’re seeing a lot of investment in remodeling projects, with an increasing desire for multi-functional spaces.

Through our recent California Closets survey, we found more than one third (37%) of Americans have not moved in the past five years, and instead are redesigning areas of their home to maximize space with increased functionality.

Multi-Purpose Spaces with Style

Homeowners are looking at how areas can work double duty, e.g. a home office now doubles as a guest room with the addition of a wall bed. Most of the time, the room functions as a working office. When guests come to visit, it easily transforms into a comfortable place to stay.

Not only are people making smart decisions to get more out of the space they have, but there has been a lot more attention paid to how these solutions contribute to the design of a home.

For example, we’re seeing pops of bright colors like tangerine, chartreuse and citron worked into media centers and closets to make projects polished. We’re also excited by some of the materials coming to life recently. There’s been demand for textured woods in the home as well as fabric-like finishes for inside drawers to add a moment of surprise when digging for that sock or other items.

Here's an example of how you can create a room with multiple functions - home office, extra storage, guest room with wall bed - and still include contemporary style and eye-catching color:

Now, as a guest room:

If you own your home and have no desire to move anytime soon, you might benefit from a remodeling project. Upgrades make living in your current home that much more comfortable and stylish - while also increasing the value of your home for when or if you decide to sell in the future.

What do you think? Are you thinking of remodeling your home this year?

Ginny Snook Scott

Ginny Snook Scott is the chief design officer at California Closets. She has over 25 years experience with California Closets and has helped over 1,000 clients create custom closets and organize their home.